Renowned and acclaimed fiction writer Julia Alvarez, the author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents is probably the last person one would think would devote an entire semi-memoir to Haiti. But maybe not. Alvarez’s roots are in the Dominican Republic, Haiti’s twin sister, and she and her husband Bill are the owners of Alta Gracia an organic coffee form that also doubles as a literacy arts center.

The title of the book A Wedding in Haiti, refers to Piti’s nuptials. Piti, is a lanky fellow, Alvarez met while he was still in his teens, who she and her husband Bill kept in touch with over the years, supporting him with thoughtful gifts. Despite the fact that they are worlds apart: Julia Alvarez is a member of the literary elite back in America, and is the granddaughter of members of the Dominican oligarchy, whereas Piti is the son of a hut-living family, the friendship forments to almost son-mother pro.

Alvarez nonchalantly promised to come to his wedding someday, not realizing that Piti would jump the broom and hold her on his promise. What follows is a brand new genre perhaps: travelmoirlogue. The book is about a wedding in Haiti in the town of Moustique, but it’s also about the aging of The Pitouses, the nickname of Alvarez’s Alzheimer-affected parents. The book is about the close and touching friendship between the nationals of two countries, who traditionally do not always get along. It’s also about immigration and border escapades, as one of the book’s most fast-paced passages regarding Dominican checkpoints show.

And how a U.S.-born raised Dominican views the lack of autonomy of young, mountain-dweelling Haitian countryside wives. An exchange between Alvarez and Piti concerning his post-marital travel plans with his new wife Eseline and their daughter Ludy:

But what about Eseline? “Shouldn’t you talk this over with her first? I say, sticking up for the female’s right to decide. “Tomorrow she is my wife and must do what I say,” Piti explains, matter-of-factly…”You must talk it over with Eseline,” I insist. Piti gives me a perfunctory yes-mom nod. I have a feeling the talk will not be the kind of conversation I am thinking of.”

And inevitably, the earthquake that struck Haiti becomes part of the story; it’s the moment of personal reflection for Bill, Eli, Homero—others who are part of Alvarez’s journey. It’s a wedding in Haiti, but the feast is in Hispaniola.

You’ve found your soulmate, the lady of your reveries; the man of your dreams. Now you have the ring, the budget, and you’ve decided that Haiti will be the place to tie the knot. You can’t think of another place more romantic and neither can I…The sun-kissed beaches, the fruit-filled forests are the perfect settings for the wonderful days ahead in your life. Haiti’s physical beauty is the perfect background to begin this wonderful life together.

But where to start? How does one get married in Haiti?

Angie M. Joseph who is an Event Designer and Planner and whose firm Konfetti Decor, has planned dozens of weddings has all the answers that might come to your mind. Joseph’s firm is based in Turgeau, a suburb of Port-au-Prince and gives you a rundown of what it takes to have a Haiti Destination Wedding.

Kreyolicious: What documents does one need to get married in Haiti?
Each church, religion operates differently; however, I can say that for the Catholic Church a couple getting married in Haiti must have certain documents ready such as ID, certificate of baptism, first communion, and a letter from their parish allowing them to get married in another church. The priests are also very strict about meeting with the couple and have them participate in group meetings with other soon-to-be-married couples to discuss marriage, spirituality and living together. The couple will also need to confess to their sins before the wedding.

[Photo Credit: Bazino Photography for Konfetti Decor]

Kreyolicious: What about for people not associated with the Catholic faith, the non-denominational couples?
Non-Catholics sometimes [have it] easier than Catholics as they can celebrate by the beach or in a beautiful garden. In terms of requirements, all religions have pretty strict rules and will ask to meet the couple, and will make sure they are members of the church and follow some pre- marital classes and exchange groups.

Above: Angie M. Joseph, the Wedding and Event Planner-in-Chief and CEO of Konfetti Decor.

Kreyolicious: And non-Haitian citizens, what are the governmental requirements for them to marry in Haiti?
Haiti is a destination for anyone who want to travel and get married here. It is easier if one of them is Haitian in order to get the marital registration act from DGI. Also keep in mind they can always get married in civil court and have their destination wedding wherever they please.

Kreyolicious: What are the profiles of the couples who you plan weddings for?
Usually KonfettiDecor plans weddings for young couples between the ages of 24 to 27 years old in which both parties live abroad yet getting married is extremely important to them. It is much harder planning a wedding long distance but with the right communication tools things work out successfully.

Kreyolicious: What percent have a destination wedding in Haiti?
Percentage-wise I can say that we cover more weddings with the couple living abroad then in Haiti. Haiti is definitely a destination for many Haitians getting married with either another Haitian or any other nationality. We’ve done many European countries such as Belgium, Italy and Paris, Argentina, Guadeloupe, and the USA of course.

Konfetti Decor: What does Konfetti Decor offer to potential brides?
Konfetti Decor is a one-stop shop for the brides. We not only offer decoration and lighting services, but also we provide linens, and chairs. And also because we are planners, we are in contact with all the vendors and even if we are not hired as such we are always more than happy to share information with the brides and put them in contact with the best photographers, bakeries, caterers, et cetera. When a bride or groom comes to us all problems are solved. Also important to note that we also did many weddings where the bride would not be in Haiti and the groom to be would be the one in charge coordinating everything, while trying very hard to go into details to make his future wife happy. And weddings are not their [the grooms’] forte. We have had many cases like this and we are always there patient and understanding to help them make the right choices.

[All photos are from Konfetti Decor and are of actual weddings that took place in Haiti for which Konfetti Decor served as the planning company.]

Konfetti Decor and its staff can be reached at (509) 3783/3803 or (509) 34703333.

Towards the beginning of Haiti’s history, there was a strong link with Germany.

The Wedding at Port-au-Prince by Hans Christoph Buch is a novel written by a German with Haitian roots (this book was actually originally written in German and has been translated by Ralph Manheim). Buch’s great-grandfather Louis was a pharmacist who emigrated to Haiti, just as the 1800s was about to come to a close.

The Wedding at Port-au-Prince is the fictionalized story of German communities in Haiti, but it really begins with the arrival of the French admiral Villaret de Joyeuse, who sails into Port-au-Prince in 1802. This French beginning will give way to the German aspect of the novel’s pages later.

Buch recounts the story of Pauline, the Haitian woman his great-grandfather marries, who dies under mysterious circumstances that her countryman deems vodun-related. Intersected within Buch’s book, are letter exchanges that detail Haitian-German relations from the 1890s down to the 1970s, from the scandal of the so-called Luders affairs, an incident that was to mar relations between Germany and Haiti.

Intrigues, duels, diplomatic gaffes really aren’t supposed to be part of any wedding celebration, but Buch’s story is really about the marriage of two communities, one from Europe and the other the hot Caribbean island of Haiti.

Independent filmmaker Easmanie Michel is a woman who won’t sit still creatively. Her short film Minutes to Say Hi was recently screened at the Haiti Cultural Exchange Haiti Film Fest. The Harlem-based filmmaker has Caroline’s Wedding, another cinematic baby on the horizon. The feature is based on a short story written by Edwidge Danticat and Michel has already signed Vicky Jeudy of the Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black” as part of the cast. I took this time to discuss the film with the NYU grad, as well as the significance behind her handle on social media…Ugly Girls Can Rule The World.

Kreyolicious: If you had to do things over, would you have skipped college and just worked in the film industry?
I would not have skipped school because I think my studies in English literature, cinema theory and philosophy have given me a nuanced understanding about the topics I’ve wanted to address. I am intrigued with human consciousness, and my studies have enhanced my desire to explore, visually, the reasons people make certain choices in their lives. I have considered and encountered the more abstract textures of human experience through my studies.

Easmanie Michel having a squad moment with Edwidge Danticat, on whose short story her upcoming film “Caroline’s Wedding” is based on.

Kreyolicious: Your handle on social media is “Ugly Girls Can Rule the World.” Why that choice? And how come ugly girls run the world?
There is something about that handle that is appealing to me because it forces people to think about what is ugly and the nature of what is considered beauty in a cultural context. Some people are offended by the title and someone once told me it was “disingenuous.” And yet others understand that in some way there is power in reclaiming the word.

Perhaps if we change our relationship with it, it may also challenge aesthetic ideas of beauty. Our culture promotes an aesthetic point system that can often be demoralizing; there is an image of perfection that dominates our society. I feel this handle is “subversive,” in so far as it challenges that.

Kreyolicious: One of your next projects is Caroline’s Wedding with Vicky Jeudy. How is that coming along?
The project is coming along. Last year we participated in the Women at Sundance Financing and Strategy Intensive. We are still looking to capitalize the production through fundraising and investment.

I am looking to shoot the feature by the end of the year. We currently have a website where updates about the film can be found at www.carolinesweddingthefilm.com. Also, the project is fiscally sponsored by New York Women in Film and Television.

[Main Photo Credit: Tequila Minsky]

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to Caroline’s Wedding, the upcoming film from Easmanie Michel, you can do so by clicking here: